In the face of uncertainty, one of the most empowering steps you can take is to prepare yourself and your loved ones for the unexpected. Creating and maintaining an emergency kit for your home isn’t just about readiness —it’s about feeling secure, connected, and confident when life throws something unexpected your way.
Why is a Home Emergency Kit So Important?
Nature, in all its beauty, is unpredictable. Whether it’s an earthquake, a sudden storm, or an extended power outage, these events remind us how vulnerable we can be. While we can’t control these natural forces, we can control how we respond. Preparing an emergency kit for your home is about more than just survival; it’s a proactive way to protect your family and ensure you’re equipped to handle moments of crisis with confidence and calm.
As someone who spends countless hours exploring the outdoors and photographing its wonders, I’ve learned firsthand the value of preparation. I always keep one of these Roadside Safety Kits and First Aid Kits in each of my cars, and I would never hit a trail without my 10 Essentials. The same principle applies to your home—a thoughtfully prepared emergency kit can make all the difference when the unexpected happens.
During an emergency, you may need to stay in your home (“shelter-in-place”) and rely on your emergency kit for up to two weeks. Alternatively, you may need to evacuate quickly due to a flood, wildfire, or other emergency. That’s why I keep a grab-and-go bag prepacked for each member of my household (pets included), so we’re always ready.
In BC, Canada's national Alert Ready system will only be used for specific events, such as tsunami or extreme heat emergencies. Many parts of the province will instead use the public alert system Alertable for any significant local emergency and include relevant information for people who live, work, or play in their locations. During a significant emergency, the Alertable app is one of the fastest ways for emergency teams to provide life-saving instructions directly to you. Download the free Alertable app to make sure you get notified about emergencies near you.
What Should Be in Your Emergency Kit?
Household Kit
- Durable 102L storage tote bin – You’ll need at least one large, durable container to keep your supplies organized and protected.
- Nonperishable food – Stock enough food for 72 hours to two weeks (e.g., dehydrated meals or canned goods with a manual can opener). These emergency dehydrated meals are a great option as they take up little room and have a very long shelf-life (e.g., 25 years). Don’t forget food for your babies and pets!
- Water – Most people will need 4 litres of water per day (2 litres for drinking and 2 extra litres for cooking and sanitation/cleaning) but kids, nursing moms and people who are sick will need more. Pets will need about 30 mL of water per kg of body weight per day. If the weather is hot, you’ll need to nearly double that. As the need for clean water is so great, I make sure to include water purification tablets/drops and an emergency water filter in addition to the bottled water that I store.
- Large first aid kit – I particularly like this one because it has well-labelled and organized inner compartments that make it easy to locate and identify what you need in an emergency. It’s the same one I keep in each of my cars. Make sure to include some non-prescription medications such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen and an antihistamine.
- Garbage bags – essential for sanitation.
- Moist towelettes – for hygiene.
- Battery-operated lanterns with extra batteries – one per person for hands-free illumination of a large area.
- Gas and water emergency shutoff tool – Handy for turning off utilities if needed.
Personal Grab-and-Go Bags
Each household member should have a grab-and-go bag packed and stored in your household emergency kit. If an evacuation alert were to be announced, add additional items (as indicated below) and place each bag under its owner’s bed. Each bag contains the following supplies to be comfortable and safe for a minimum of 24 hours:
Grab-and-Go Bag for an Adult or Child
- Emergency backpack – this lightweight daypack has an integrated whistle and comes in a different colour for each member of the household
- Home Emergency Plan with a map showing our family meeting place and out-of-town contact details
- Copy of ID and important documents (eg, banking, insurance)
- Cash in small bills
- Pen and notepad
- Whistle
- Extra glasses, if needed
- Small first aid kit
- Durable 1L water bottle (to be filled during an emergency)
- Water purification tablets/drops
- Personal water filter and instructions
- Ready-to-eat food (e.g., energy bars)
- Personal toiletries (travel-sized toothbrush, toothpaste, liquid soap, hand sanitizer)
- Emergency blanket
- Rain poncho
- Sunscreen
- Dust mask
- Cell phone charging cord
- Crank and battery-powered weather radio, flashlight and power bank to charge a cell phone (with extra batteries)
- Headlamp (with extra batteries)
- Comfort item (e.g., a small toy for a child, a book or deck of cards for an adult)
Items to be Added When an Emergency Alert is Issued or at the Time of an Unpredicted Emergency
- Seasonal clothing and sturdy footwear – Tailor this to the season and add to each grab-and-go bag before evacuating.
- Current prescription medications, if required.
- Hearing aids with extra batteries, if needed.
- Fill the reusable water bottle already in the grab-and-go bag with uncontaminated water.
- Cell phone and wallet – add these items when evacuating
Grab-and-Go Bag for an Infant or Baby
- Emergency tote bag
- Small first aid kit
- Disposable nursing pads (if nursing)
- Manual breast pump (if nursing and pumping)
- Ready-to-feed infant formula in single-servings with nipples and rings (if formula feeding)
- Sippy cup for water
- Water purification tablets/drops
- Nonperishable baby food
- Feeding spoon and travel bowl
- Disposable bibs
- Dish soap and scrub brush
- Mesh bag for drying infant feeding supplies
- Plastic container with a lid for cleaning and feeding items
- Large pack of diapers
- Disposable change mats
- Baby wipes (two packs)
- Diaper rash cream
- Travel-size baby wash and lotion
- Resealable plastic bags (for soiled clothes)
- Disposable diaper bags
- Emergency blanket
- Sunscreen
- Small quick dry towel or burp rag
- Infant pain reliever (e.g., acetaminophen)
Items to be Added When an Emergency Alert is Issued or at the Time of an Unpredicted Emergency
- Seasonal clothing – Tailor this to the season and add to the grab-and-go bag before evacuating.
- Current prescription medications, if required.
- Up-to-date medical record, including vaccination history.
- Fill the sippy cup already in the grab-and-go bag with uncontaminated water if using.
- Baby carrier, such as a sling or front/back carrier.
- Portable crib (if space allows during evacuation).
Grab-and-Go Bag for a Pet
- Emergency tote bag
- Pet Emergency Plan
- Recent photo of your pet with you and alone
- Pet first aid kit
- Food (and manual can opener if needed) plus treats
- Collapsible food bowl
- Leakproof pet water bottle with dispenser
- Waste bags or small container of litter, portable litter box and scoop
- Leash, muzzle (if required), and harness – choose a harness with a handle for added control and to make lifting your pet easier in emergencies.
- Small waterproof comfort blanket
- Safety light with extra batteries
- Apple Airtag and collar holder
- Pet carrier, cage or crate (including extra supplies such as shavings for bedding and a hiding box for bunnies or other caged pets, a portable battery-operated heat lamp for reptiles, or cuttlebone and grit for birds)
- Comfort item (a favourite toy or towel with your scent)
Items to be Added When an Emergency Alert is Issued or at the Time of an Unpredicted Emergency
- Up-to-date medical record, including vaccination history
- Current prescription medications, if required
- Fill the reusable water bottle already in the grab-and-go bag with uncontaminated water
Download a PDF of my Emergency Kit Checklist.
Keeping Your Kit Current
The Importance of Being Prepared
PreparedBC has a free Home Preparedness Guide that can teach you how to identify hazards, make an emergency plan and build an emergency kit like mine. For more resources, check out PreparedBC’s downloadable guides and fill-in-the-blank emergency plans such as the Home Emergency Plan and Pet Emergency Plan that I've included in my grab-and-go checklists. These tools make preparing for specific hazards and circumstances easier and more manageable.
Here in BC, experts have long warned about the “Big One,” a major earthquake that could disrupt life for weeks or even months. But it’s not just earthquakes. Winter storms, floods, landslides, wildfires, and power outages can leave you scrambling for essentials. That’s when an emergency kit becomes invaluable.
Having a well-stocked emergency kit means your family is ready to face those critical first 72 hours when emergency services may be overwhelmed. Whether it’s providing clean water during a boil-water advisory, staying warm during a winter power outage, or accessing first aid supplies after a sudden event, an emergency kit ensures you have the essentials to stay safe and secure. It’s a small step that ensures peace of mind and could make all the difference in an emergency.
2 Responses
Amazing, Alys
Thanks for this.
Well worth reminding us all as it is an ongoing project.
I’m so glad it was helpful!